As part of the February All Partner Meeting, the Northern Colorado Health Sector Partnership (HSP) facilitated roundtable discussions and committee updates, engaging healthcare professionals, educators, and workforce development partners around key issues affecting the region’s healthcare workforce.
Table Discussions: Key Themes & Takeaways
Participants responded to three central discussion questions:
-
What do your open positions look like, and how long do they remain unfilled?
-
Many reported an average time-to-fill of 28–30 days, which is relatively quick compared to other industries.
-
Background checks and fingerprinting delays can extend this timeline by up to 24 additional days.
-
Employers noted using hiring platforms strategically, such as pulling and reposting listings to stay visible—raising concerns about whether this practice skews vacancy data.
-
-
How is AI impacting, or expected to impact, your hiring process and workforce needs?
-
AI is increasingly being used to supplement, not replace, recruitment and client care processes.
-
AI tools can help streamline initial candidate screening and administrative tasks.
-
Emotional intelligence and human-centered skills remain essential; AI cannot replace those competencies.
-
-
What should the Health Sector Partnership do to support healthcare pathways?
-
Cost of living and limited financial readiness among youth are barriers to entry in healthcare fields.
-
HSP could support financial education, realistic job expectations, and career readiness initiatives.
-
Access to platforms like Xello was emphasized to help students explore viable healthcare careers early.
-
The group discussed the potential of career expos, informational mentorships, and exploration events that include soft skills training and real-world preparation.
-
Committee Action Team Highlights
Better Serving the Aging
-
Dawn Paepke (co-chair) shared the committee’s efforts to support Thriving Weld and Acts of Connection, helping older adults combat isolation and connect with community resources.
-
Current partnerships include the NRBH Senior Peer Support Team and the Alliance for Suicide Prevention.
-
The committee is focused on identifying service gaps and building collaborations to support older adults more effectively.
Recruitment and Retention
-
The committee is pivoting from workplace violence (where duplicative efforts were identified) to focus on Career Readiness.
-
Emphasis will be placed on setting clear expectations for new hires, preparing them for the realities of healthcare workplace environments.
Legislative Advocacy
-
The committee is working to inform the community on legislative updates and advocate based on evidence and needs.
-
They are actively monitoring the current legislative session and plan to report on relevant developments for Northern Colorado.
-
While the committee is focused on advocacy, it reserves the right to take a no-position stance when appropriate.
Nurse Well-Being Conference Highlights
-
The recent Nurse Well-Being Conference welcomed 240 attendees.
-
Keynote speaker LeAnn Thieman shared her experience with Operation Babylift, which rescued orphans from Vietnam—an emotional and inspiring story.
-
The event included patient testimonials highlighting the life-saving impact of nurses and healthcare providers.
-
The event was covered by Fox31 News, and the segment will be posted to the HSP website soon.
Next Steps
The discussions and committee work at the May meeting reinforced the importance of cross-sector collaboration to address ongoing challenges in healthcare recruitment, retention, and care for vulnerable populations. HSP continues to work toward strengthening the healthcare pipeline, informing policy, and building a healthier, more connected Northern Colorado.
For more information or to get involved with a committee, contact nocohealthsector@gmail.com.